Trial Date Set For Mugabe’s son-in-law Simba Chikore

The trial date of former president Robert Mugabe’s son in law Simba Chikore, who is also a former Zimbabwe Airways employee on charges of unlawfully detaining an employee has been set for December 14, 2018.

Chikore appeared in court on Wednesday with the intention to apply for refusal of further remand but this was thrown out after the prosecution slapped him with a trial date instead, State-owned The Herald reported.

He will be jointly charged with his alleged accomplice, Simbarashe Mutimbe who is said to be a security guard and also participated in the ‘kidnap’.

Harare provincial magistrate Mr Elisha Singano granted a request by the State to marry the dockets of the two for the purposes of trial.

It is alleged that on June 7 this year, Chikore, fired Bertha Zakeyo after accusing her of leaking company secrets.

Zakeyo, the court heard, was required to sign some documents acknowledging her dismissal and when she refused demanding that her lawyer be present, Mutimbe prevented her from leaving the premises.

Chikore allegedly locked the office and called the police, saying there was a person who was causing trouble at the company. Zakeyo was allegedly detained in her office for two hours by security guards and denied access to her lawyer.

After her release, Zakeyo then proceeded to lay charges of unlawful detention on Simba Chikore and his accomplice, Simbarashe Mutimbe.